Jolly Tamale

What a fun and unique place to eat. They do Mexican food their own way, and it’s so good. I highly recommend the Sancho, a kind of hybrid burrito, tamale, taco. The hot sauce has just enough heat and is still flavorful. The staff is so friendly and speedy. If you enjoy «chain» restaurants? Drive on, this isn’t the place for you. If you enjoy a place like no other? Stop in, and enjoy.

I have loved this place since I was a little kid. I am from Oklahoma and this is seriously the first place I eat EVERYTIME I come back to Illinois — where my family is from. 26 years and I still hold this as my favorite place to eat of all time. I often wish there was a candle scent of the awesome smell that hits you when you walk in the door. And don’t even get me started on the sauce — My favorite! All of the food is a like a flavor bomb went off in your mouth. You should come to Oklahoma! I tell everyone about you down here and I have taken all my friends that have traveled with me to Illinois there and they love you guys too!

En route to Manhattan, KS from South Bend, IN. Pit stop in Springfield. Jr. chalupa for $ 5.41 = WINNER!

If you want real Mexican food, you’ll get closer at Taco Bell, and even that is stretching it. The kitchen is mainly a few microwaves and the dining room is a step below greasy spoon. Head down the road further until you hit La Fiesta, Cancun, or Xochimilco.

Best 6 dollar lunch ever. Two sanchos and a drink. Should have gotten the deluxe ones with tomatoes and onions though. Great little hole in the wall. I wished i lived closer!

Came to town for a visit and wanted some Mexican food. Mom wanted Jolly Tamale so we went. I read reviews before going so we ordered a sancho deluxe, chalupa, and the mexican apple pie with cheese. I ate some of a chalupa and the pie. The beans on the Chalupa have a great flavor and really made the chalupa for me. Because of the reviews we ordered their hot taco sauce on the side. It really is oddly sweet. Not bad, just unexpected. The pie was good too. Our particular one could have used some more of the apple mixture and less cheese to balance it out better. All and all, I would go back. :)

Decent cheap mexican food. Tortillas for the burrito were old el paso type, dry and thin. They have something like a Mexican pizza which was the best part of the meal. It was loaded with meat and beans, lettuce, guac, and all the good stuff. The tamales are different, but nice and meaty. Ended it all with a churro which was still a bit cold in the middle but good nonetheless.
Stopped on the way back to central il from Texas where I am spoiled by all the good true Mexican food. It was funny that there wasn’t a single Mexican working in the place. Two of us ate for 16 bucks and rolled our tubby selves out!

Satisfying, but not traditional Mexican by any means. I ordered the Sancho deluxe after reading other Unilocal reviews. It was pretty tasty & consisted of meat, cheese, sour cream, tomatoes, & lettuce all wrapped in a flour tortilla. The nachos were fair, kind of bland, but ok. The hot sauce has some «zing», but is not really hot. The portion sizes are good & if you drink water, you can spend around $ 6 for lunch.
Cash only — they don’t take credit cards!
Meh, not bad, but not a mind blowing experience.

10 min to get served at drive thru today (that’s not typical) — this taco salad/​hot better be worth it… and it is. Yum.

So it’s not real Mexican, but I crave this place on a monthly basis. Which is horrible because I don’t live in the Springfield area and the closest thing I have to it is Taco Bell. And Taco Bell does not come close. Sancho Deluxes and tacos are my favorite. Word to the wise though, they’re not open during State Fair time and the drive-​thru is cash only. The lunch lines are crazy long, but it is worth the wait. I swear there’s something magical in the food…

I am partial to Jolly Tamale because I grew up on their Sancho Deluxe. I do mean grew up back when they were still a Taco Gringo on Wabash. Before the Wingo’s who owned it got divorced. Circa 1978 or 9 I think.
Anyway I digress, I love the Sancho Deluxe I can easily eat two and do whenever I am back in town. Also the Mexican apple pie with cheese! Yes cheese don’t knock it till you try it, fall in love and order it again!
Bottom line worth a peek, beware it is fast food so if you are expecting gourmet Mexican fare you will be disappointed. But if you are in the mood for some greasy hometown joint goodness go here!
This is Mexamerican food! Not traditional Mexican food. Don’t expect a Texas tacoria either.
Sancho Deluxe is seasoned ground beef, shredded cheese, onions, lettuce, tomato, sour cream and taco sauce wrapped in a thin warm flour tortilla! I don’t order mine with taco sauce it tends to be on the sweeter side.
The Mexican apple pie with cheese is crispy fried tortilla strips, dusted with cinnamon and sugar, topped with apple pie filling and sprinkled with shredded cheese. IT IS SO GOOD!
These are the only things I ever order and I know they are yummy!
FYI it is cash only, & the location on Wabash doesn’t have a drive thru.

MMMMMMMmmmmmm! I love the Jolly Tamale!
I order the Sancho. I crave it often. The prices are affordable and the atmosphere is lame. I guess you can’t have it all sometimes. Whatever is in their taco sauce is fantastic. I recommend coming in after 1:30p beat the lunch crowd. They close early though at like 7pm I think so be prepared for that. There is a drive thru but we always go in. And warning they don’t take plastic. When you are done you can run over to Pricilla’s «Where Fun and Fantasy Meet»